Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people in work were living in poverty in each parliamentary constituency in each of the last 30 years.

Esther McVey: Data is not available on the number or percentage of individuals in work and in relative low income at constituency level. This data is not collected at constituency level as the sample size would not be sufficient to produce robust estimates.
	
		
			 Number of individuals in households where at least one person is in work, and that are in relative low-income, both Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC), UK, 1994-95 to 2011-12 
			  Number BHC (million) Number AHC (million) Percentage BHC Percentage AHC 
			 1994-95 3.3 4.3 9 12 
			 1995-96 3.1 4.3 8 12 
			 1996-97 3.7 5.0 10 13 
			 1997-98 4.1 5.3 11 14 
			 1998-99 4.0 5.4 10 14 
			 1999-2000 4.1 5.3 10 14 
			 2000-01 3.8 5.3 10 14 
			 2001-02 3.8 5.1 10 13 
			 2002-03 4.0 5.4 10 13 
			 2003-04 4.0 5.2 10 13 
			 2004-05 3.9 5.4 10 13 
			 2005-06 4.3 6.0 10 14 
			 2006-07 4.3 6.2 10 15 
			 2007-08 4.5 6.5 11 15 
			 2008-09 4.7 6.7 11 16 
			 2009-10 4.4 6.4 10 15 
		
	
	
		
			 2010-11 4.3 6.3 10 15 
			 2011-12 4.6 6.7 11 15 
		
	
	The table above gives the number of individuals living in households where at least one person is in work, and that are in relative low income; and the percentage of individuals living in households where at least one person is in work that are in relative low-income; both Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC), in the UK, between 1994-95 and 2011-12.
	Notes:
	1. The figures above are from Households Below Average Income (HBAI), which is sourced from the Family Resources Survey. The latest publication of HBAI can be found using the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206778/full_hbai13.pdf
	2. Someone is considered to be in relative low-income if they live in a household whose income is below 60% of median income for all households. Median income is the income of the household in the middle of the income distribution. Household income is equivalised, which means that income is adjusted for the size and composition of the household; and household income is also deflated, which means that income is adjusted for changes in inflation.
	3. In Household Below Average Income, a household is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal together or share the living accommodation. This differs from a benefit unit (family), which is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple, plus any dependent children. From January 2006 same-sex partners (civil partners and cohabitees) are also included in the same benefit unit. A household will consist of one or more benefit units.
	4. BHC refers to income before housing costs have been deducted; while AHC refers to income after housing costs have been deducted. Housing costs include; rent (gross of housing benefit); water rates, community water charges and council water charges; mortgage interest payments; structural insurance premiums (for owner occupiers); ground rent and service charges.
	5. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 1% and to the nearest 100,000 people. Estimates based on survey data are subject to uncertainty; and are subject to sampling error. Figures may not sum due to rounding error.

Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change has been in the number and proportion of people who lived in poverty from (a) 1997 to 2010 and (b) 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The information is as follows.
	
		
			 Number and percentage of individuals in relative low-income both Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC), 1997-98, 2010-11, and 2011-12 
			  Number BHC (million) Number AHC (million) Percentage BHC Percentage AHC 
			 1997-98 10.9 13.6 20 24 
			 2010-11 9.8 13.0 16 21 
			 2011-12 9.8 13.0 16 21 
			      
			 Change from 1997-98 to 2010-11 -1.1 -0.6 -3 -3 
		
	
	
		
			 Change from 2010-11 to 2011-12 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
		
	
	The table above gives the number and percentage of individuals in relative low-income in the UK, in 1997-98, 2010-11, and 2011-12, which is the latest year for which data is available. Figures are presented on a Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing costs (AHC) basis.
	Between 1997-98 and 2010-11 the number of individuals in relative low-income fell by 1.1 million BHC and by 0.6 million AHC. While the percentage of individuals in relative low-income fell by three percentage points BHC and by three percentage points AHC. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000 people and the nearest 1% and may not sum due to rounding.
	There was no change in the number or percentage of individuals in relative low income between 2010-11 and 2011-12.
	Notes:
	1. The Figures above are from Households Below Average Income (HBAI), which is sourced from the Family Resources Survey. The number of individuals in relative low-income, both BHC and AHC, can be found on page 60 of the latest HBAI publication; while the percentage of individuals in relative low-income can be found on page 58 of the latest publication of HBAI. The latest publication of HBAI can be found using the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206778/full_hbai13.pdf
	2. Someone is considered to be in relative low-income if they live in a household whose income is below 60% of median income for all households. Median income is the income of the household in the middle of the income distribution. Household income is equivalised, which means that income is adjusted for the size and composition of the household; and household income is also deflated, which means that income is adjusted for changes in inflation.
	3. In Household Below Average income, a household is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal together or share the living accommodation. This differs from a benefit unit (family), which is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple, plus any dependent children. From January 2006 same-sex partners (civil partners and cohabitees) are also included in the same benefit unit. A household will consist of one or more benefit units.
	4. BHC refers to income before housing costs have been deducted; while AHC refers to income after housing costs have been deducted. Housing costs include; rent (gross of housing benefit); water rates, community water charges and council water charges; mortgage interest payments; structural insurance premiums (for owner occupiers); ground rent and service charges.
	5. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 1% and to the nearest 100,000 people. Estimates based on survey data are subject to uncertainty; and are subject to sampling error. Figures may not sum due to rounding error.